Su Fan was speechless. They really were birds of a feather, was there nothing else on their minds?
"Enough talk. If you have nothing else, I need your help with something."
Su Fan wanted to change the subject and quickly steered the conversation away.
"What is it?"
Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"Are there any bandit suppression missions recently? Help me get assigned to one of the suppression teams."
Su Fan stated directly.
"Bandit suppression? Are you still thinking of profiting from illicit gains? You're about to become a consort, can't you have grander ambitions?"
Xiao Yan said with dissatisfaction.
Su Fan's words reminded him of their past experience of wiping out a bandit stronghold together.
"What illicit gains? Consort? I have important matters to attend to. Can you arrange it?"
Su Fan couldn't be bothered to explain to Xiao Yan.
He wouldn't understand anyway.
"Yes, you're the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, right? I'll arrange for you to be a battlefield commander."
Xiao Yan nodded and said to Su Fan.
Getting Su Fan into a bandit suppression team was simple. He'd just give Su Fan a special commander's identity, which would be perfectly reasonable.
"Alright, get some rest. I'll await your news."
After sorting out the bandit suppression matter, Su Fan left, not wanting to disturb Xiao Yan's rest. He needed to recuperate at this time.
Su Fan left the Crown Prince's chambers and looked at the sprawling corridors. He felt he might get lost again.
As he walked, Su Fan suddenly felt the surroundings were familiar.
He stopped in his tracks when he passed an archway.
This was the Princess's chambers, wasn't it?
Su Fan was startled. How did he end up here without realizing it?
Su Fan quickly prepared to sneak away. If Xiao Xue'er saw him, he didn't know how she would torment him.
"Su Fan!"
A delighted voice called out from ahead.
Xiao Xue'er was happily skipping back from a corner when she saw Su Fan at the entrance. She was even more delighted.
Today, her father had unexpectedly summoned her, which made her very happy.
After meeting her father, he asked about her recent life, and how she met Su Fan. Xiao Xue'er answered truthfully, but she didn't mention Su Fan giving her a gift.
She was already happy after meeting her father, and now seeing Su Fan upon her return made her even happier.
Su Fan must have come specifically to see her, as he was already at her doorstep.
Seeing Xiao Xue'er, Su Fan instinctively took a step back and turned to leave.
Xiao Xue'er rushed forward and hugged Su Fan.
Su Fan stumbled, almost falling flat on his face.
Su Fan was shocked.
Is this a princess? Don't insult the word!
"You finally came to see me!"
Xiao Xue'er said, hugging Su Fan with great joy.
Since her mother was gone, no one had ever cared about her. Su Fan was the first person to give her a gift.
No one even remembered her birthday.
Su Fan felt his shoulder getting wet and his heart stirred.
Xiao Xue'er, was she crying?
"Alright, alright, I'm here to see you."
Su Fan gently patted Xiao Xue'er's back and said softly.
Regardless, Xiao Xue'er, born into royalty, was quite pitiful.
She had never left this gilded cage since she was young. Seemingly glamorous, she had no freedom at all.
Her mother was punished and confined to a neglected cold palace overgrown with weeds. Her father never cared about her. Perhaps Su Fan's appearance brought her warmth.
"Su Fan, come with me."
Xiao Xue'er pulled Su Fan towards her chambers.
Su Fan was somewhat resistant. He was already under suspicion by the Emperor. If anyone saw him being intimate with the princess, it would be hard to explain. However, thinking of Xiao Xue'er's background, he couldn't bear to spoil her good mood.
He let her pull him inside.
Xiao Xue'er rummaged under her pillow and found a bracelet woven from thin string. It was crude and, to be blunt, a bit ugly.
"You gave me a gift, and I want to give you one too. Here, this is for you."
Xiao Xue'er, blushing slightly, handed the bracelet to Su Fan.
Su Fan accepted the bracelet from Xiao Xue'er's hand. He really wanted to tell Xiao Xue'er that the sachet wasn't from him.
"Thank you."
Su Fan could only reluctantly accept. He had promised that woman not to tell Xiao Xue'er who the gift was from.
"Su Fan, I want to leave the palace."
Xiao Xue'er looked at Su Fan with a pitiful expression.
"Then go to the outhouse, why are you telling me?"
Su Fan looked at Xiao Xue'er with disdain. This little girl had to tell him even when going to the outhouse.
Xiao Xue'er's face darkened.
"I mean leave the Imperial Palace!"
Xiao Xue'er corrected him, embarrassed and indignant.
Su Fan suddenly understood.
No wonder she was telling him about going to the outhouse.
"I want to go out and see. Please take me out~"
Xiao Xue'er pleaded with Su Fan.
"My dear lady, I'm an Imperial Guard. If I take you out of the palace, am I tired of living?"
Su Fan said speechlessly.
If this were discovered, he'd likely lose his head.
"It's okay, I promise not to tell Father Emperor!"
Xiao Xue'er immediately swore to Su Fan.
Su Fan looked at her with a cold smile.
Is this a matter of whether you tell or not? The palace is full of the Emperor's spies. Even if you don't say anything, he'll know I took you out. You'll be fine, as a princess, you won't be punished. But it's different for me.
"No, I don't want to die yet."
Su Fan flatly refused.
"No, I just want to take a look outside, just one glance, and I'll come back. At worst, I'll compensate you. Look around here, whatever you like, just take it."
Xiao Xue'er said pitifully to Su Fan.
Su Fan surveyed the surroundings. The princess's chambers were indeed luxurious, but none of it was useful to him.
Seeing Su Fan's gaze wandering around the room, Xiao Xue'er's eyes lit up, thinking there was hope.
"Still no."
Su Fan's main reason was that there was nothing he fancied, so he decisively refused Xiao Xue'er.
Xiao Xue'er was not resigned.
"It doesn't have to be an object. Look again."
Xiao Xue'er reminded Su Fan, leaning closer to him.
Su Fan looked around again and confirmed there was nothing he liked.
Suddenly, he noticed Xiao Xue'er was very close to him, almost pressed against him.
"Why are you so close to me? Aren't you hot? Move aside."
Su Fan pushed Xiao Xue'er away unceremoniously.
Xiao Xue'er was instantly enraged.
She ran to the bedside table, rummaged through it, and placed a pile of items in front of Su Fan.
"Take whatever you like. This is all my possessions. As long as you take me out."
Xiao Xue'er was willing to risk her entire fortune to go out and see the world, mainly because she had been cooped up in the palace for too long.
Su Fan glanced at the items. All the things Xiao Xue'er took out were rouge and jewelry. Although valuable, they were of no use to Su Fan.
Suddenly, Su Fan saw two shiny objects, and his eyes lit up.
"How much more of this do you have?"
Su Fan quickly picked up the items and asked Xiao Xue'er.